Executive director/CEO of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shuaibu Hussein, has solicited the cooperation of Nigerian filmmakers towards providing accurate output data to attract investors to the industry.
Hussein who made the call at a capacity building conference organised by the board for ‘Kannywood’ filmmakers tagged “Next Generation Evolve Conference: Embracing the Power Within”, said although the Nigerian film industry is thriving, there was need to have accurate and adequate data that reflects its true capacity and the investment opportunities it offers.
He stated that accurate data was needed for effective planning and development of the industry, and it was also a major catalyst that could endear prospective investors .
He added that although NFVCB serves as the authentic repository of Nigeria’s film production, unwillingness of many filmmakers to present their films for classification was affecting the true picture of output.
“One of the problems we have in our industry is that we do not have data, as the ones we have do not reflect the true picture of what comes from the industry. Because of this lack of data, investors are not interested in our industry and when we tell them that we can produce a thousand plus films in a year, they will wonder.
“A lot of filmmakers bypass the Censors Board, as they no longer bring their films for classification, which is even illegal. Those of you who are filmmakers who are bypassing the board are just not helping the industry to grow, because we need to attract investors by what we can offer. I am interested in data, not the amount of money you pay, it is about getting accurate data on our movie productions.
“We need numbers because we need to report every time what the industry is doing so that investors will know that our industry is very productive, ” he said.
Husseini noted that the training was part of NFVCB’s commitment towards ensuring that stakeholders from the region were empowered with the relevant know-how and trends in filmmaking in the digital age.
He however lauded the contribution of Kannywood to the nation’s film industry. “Kannywood unique cultural identity and creative expression have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and as regulators, we recognise the importance of balancing creative freedom with social responsibility.
“The Act that established the Board gives us the power to classify films and videos, to register outlets, and to safeguard intellectual property. Our goal is to protect the industry, to promote Nigerian content, and to safeguard public interest.,” he said.
